Literature Glossary
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Over 200 literary terms, Shmooped to perfection.
Rhyme
Definition:
Simple, right? A rhyme is just a repetition of sounds that sound, well, the same.
Well, it's simple and it isn't. Strictly speaking, that definition is correct, but did you know there's also a whole bunch of different types of rhyme? Seriously, take a look:
- Internal rhyme occurs within a line of poetry.
- End rhyme occurs only at the ends of lines. Go figure.
- Perfect rhyme sounds just like what it means. A perfect rhyme rhymes perfectly, as in cat and hat.
- Slant rhyme consists of rhymes that are close, but not quite there. Think dear and door or soul and all. Also known as half rhyme, imperfect rhyme, or weak rhyme. Hey! Who you callin' weak?
- Eye rhymes look alike, but don't sound alike, like tough and bough or mint and pint.
When end rhymes are arranged in a certain way in a poem, we call that the poem's rhyme scheme. Does it go ABABABCC? How about AABBCCDD?